Ignition and lighting switch for automobiles



,W. KAISLING. IGNITION AND LIGHTING swITcH FoII AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4, I9I5- Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

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IGNITION AND LIGHTINGA SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILES. APPLICATION FILED ocT. 4, i915A 1,360,41 1 Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

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' WILLIAM KAIsLING, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNoa To xELLoeG 'swlronnoann i AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

IGNITION AND LIGHTING SWITCH FOR AUTOMOBILES.

lSpeeitleation of Letters Patent. Patent-d Nom 30, 1920. i

Application led October 4, 1915. Serial No. 53,991.

'siding in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, vhave invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Ignition and Lightiny Switches for Automobiles, of which the fo lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical switches in eneral andhas to do ,more particularlyl Wit switches for controlling a plurality of circuits, the present embodiment of my invention being constructed more particularly for use in connection'with ignition and light circuits for automobiles. It is an object of my invention to produce an improved devioeof the class described which embodies desirable features and advantages all in a simple, efficient, and economical manner; and to the accomplishment of this object and such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists in novel .details of construction, parts, and combinations of arts hereinafter described, and particu arly pointed ouin the appended claims, -reference being had to the accompanyingkdrawings forming a part hereof in which the ,same reference characters indicate likeparts Y "throughout the several views and in which- Figure 1 isa top view ofmy combination switch; i

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a right elevation of Fig. .2; y

Fig. 4 is a left elevation of Fig. 2;- e

Fig. 5 is aside elevation of Fig. l; viewed from the side opposite to that shown in ig. 6 isa sectional view along line 6-6 of Flg. 2,`showing the plunger in its operative position, looking in the direction ofthe arrow indicated in connection therewith;

Fig. 7 is another sectional rview of Fig. 2,

showing the manner in which the locking mechanism operates to lock the plunger .in

either a normal or an off-normal position;

Fig. 8 is a top view of my switch showing the plun ers and cooperating locking mechanism with the cover plate removed; H Fig. 9"`shows a circuit arrangement adapted to operate with the type of switch shown in the otherl res. p

I have prefera ly rovided three independently operable switc operating members or plungersA; B, C, for controlling the lighting when leaving the car.

circuits and a switch operating-plunger D forcontrollm the ignition circuits, together with the locking mechanism F, although it` will be apparent that' the number of plungers may be varied.

Referring more in general to the form illustrated in Fig. 2, the switchl members A, B, C and D, have operative and nonoperative positions, they being shown ,f in their non-operative position. The locking device F is preferabl arranged kto lock the plungers A, B and C in their operative or non-operative position, this arrangement being preferred on account of their-use in connection with lighting circuits` on the automobile whereby -the different circuits may be locked in their operative or non-.operative conditions.y lAs to switch D, I preferably arrange it to be locked in anl inoperative position only, this being preferable in order to prevent an operator'.l from locking this switch in anA operative position 'by mistake Referring now more in detail to the switch construction,` i't [consists of a top plate 2 which forms the 4main mounting member for Athe other parts lof theswitch. A -U-shaped mounting s`trip is'frmly secured to the top `plate 2 by means offthe screws 4 and is -p rovided with `integrally'formed dependent ears 6to which aresecuredtrips of insulation 7. To the strips of insulation 7, between the lsaid dependent ears 6, arev riveted the switch springs 8, the strips of insulation 7 lbeing riveted to the'dependent ears'8 by means of rivets 9, while the switch springs 8 are rivetedto the strips of insulation 7 by means of rivets 10. vA pair of switch springs 8 are ggvided for each of the operating plungers.

ured to the `top of the mounting plate is an ammeter 11 which may be of any suitable type, and is used-for showingthe amperage of the current that is bei taken from or appliedto battery B2, as will hereinafter be more particularlyv explained: `Mounted -directly beneath the ammeterand secured tok the top plate, is an overloadrelay I3 which lcomprises a heel piece 14,l an armature 15, a

core 16,. a winding 17, a pairk of control "contacts 18, anda tension spring 60. The functionoffthis relay will bel hereinafter more fully-explained. The ammeter is provided with apair'of terminals 19' .and 20 Insulatingly secured to the mounting plate 2 the terminal 20 passing through one limb of the mounting strip 3. One terminal of the coll of the overload relay is connected to terminal 20 of the ammeter and the other terminal is connected to a strip 61 forming the lower contact of the pair of contacts 18.

Referring to Fig. 6, each plunger comprises a movable 'plate member 21 slidably mounted in slots 22 and23 in the top plate.

2 and in the mounting strip 3 respectively. Formed integrally with plate 21 are ears 25 which coperate with the top plate 2 to limit the movement of the plunger in one direction while the integrally formed shoulders 26 coperate with the mounting strip 3 to limit the movement of the plunger in the opposite direction. Securely riveted to the slidable member 21 by means of rivets 27 is the insulating plate 28 provided with integrally formed ears 29. The ears 29 coperate with the sprin s 8 to yieldingly hold the plunger in its dierent positions. Secured to the insulating member 28 by means of a rivet 30 is a conductor strip 31 for etfecting connection between the said springs 8. Each of the plungers A, B, C, are provided with a rectangular slot 32 adapted to receive the ears 34 of the locking bar 35 when in a nonoperative position and are provided with a rectangular slot 33 adapted to receive the ears 34 of the said locking plate 35 when in an operating position. The plunger D is provided with 'a rectangular slot 32 for locking it in its non-operative position, but is not provided with a slot 33 for locking it in its operating position. Then a plunger is inv its non-operative position the switch springs 8 contact with the strip of insulation 28 while when a switch is in its operating position the conducting strip 31 condu'ctively connects the switch springs 8 to thereby close circuit connections..

An angular strip 36 is provided to connect one spring of the pair of switch springs 8 Aot the switches A, B and C, to the upper contact of the pair of contacts 18 controlled bythe overload relay 13. A second angular strip 37 .connects one terminal of the overload relay and of the ammeter, to a switch spring 8 of the ignition switch D. A spri-ng member 39 is secured to one of the insulating strips 7 by means of rivets and is adapted to make contact with the conducting strip 31 of the plunger D in either its operati 'g or non-operating positions and is adapted to be flexed outwardly when the plunger D is moved from its non-operative to its operating position. A U-shaped terminal member 40 isprovided for each of the switch springs 8 to which an electrical conductor is to `be connected. A screw 41 is provided with a lock washer 42 for securely holding an electrical conductor between the switch spring 8 and the contact surface of the said U-shaped member 40. 1

A resistance coil 43 is shown connected to the switch springs 8 of plungers A and B. This resistance coil is vfor use'incircuit arrangements where itis desirable to cut down thecurrent, and thereby dim the lamps of any of the lighting circuits.

The lock mechanism comprises an endwise slidable lock bar 35 mounted directly below the top plate 2 and is provided with slots 45 which coperate with the rivets 47 for guiding its movement. .A U-shaped spring member 46 is secured to the mounting plate 2 by means of the said rivets 47 and yieldingly holds the locking plate 35 against the under side of the top plate 2. The said spring is provided with a ridge for coperating with the grooves 63 and 64 in the lock bar 35 to yieldingly hold it in its locked and unlocked positions. A similarly shaped strip mem ber 48 is also secured to the top plate 2 by means of the said rivets 47 and is provided with a circular hole 49 for receiving the end portion 50 of the key 51. The locking plate 35 is provided with a V-shaped slot-for cooperating-with the key 51. When it is desired to lock a plunger against actuation, the key 51 is inserted in the top plate 2 which forms an escutcheon plate for the key and is turned in a clockwise direction, the part 65 of the key coperating with the V- slot in the locking bar 35 and moving the integrally'formed locking ears 34 into the slots 32 and 33 of the plungers, depending upon which position the said plungers are in. If an attempt is made to lock the plungers when the switch plunger D is in an operating position, the ear 34 of the locking plate 35 will engage member 21 of the switch D and prevent the locking plate 35 from moving to a locking position, thus notifying the operator that the switch D is off normal. Assuming that the lock. mechanism is in a locked position and it is desired tounlock the plungers, the key is inserted as before and turned in a counterf clockwise direction, the locking bar being this time moved to the left and the locking ears 34 of plate 35 withdrawn from the cooperating slots 32 and 33 of the plungers, thus unlocking the plungers so that they may be moved to either of their positions.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 9, I have shown a circuit arrangement adapted to coperate with a switch device of the character hereinbefore described. I show a pair of head lights 66, the circuits of which are controlled by the plunger member C and includes the storage battery B'f. lThe side lamps 67 are controlled through the medium of the plunger member B, and the rear light 68 and cowl lights 69 are controlled by the plunger member A. The electric horn 7 0 also receives current from the storage battery B2 and is operated by the push button 71, preferably mounted on the steering gear.

A built switch. Y From whatv has been described the' com- The overload vibratory relay 13 is so `arranged that'whenever an excessive' amount the car,.the switch plunger D is o erated to' connect current from battery 2 to the brush of the generator G, to the field of the generator G' and to the induction 'coil IC. The operator then operates the lever to close a circuit through themotor ,Ml and to` open the circuit of the generator G. The motor M is mechanically connected to the crank shaft of the engine and operates to spin the motor until Ait starts to operate under its rown power. The rotation of the gas motor causes the timer contact 76 to be opened l and closed and the distributer D to close the secondary-circuits of. the spark plugs in a well known manner. When the gas motor starts rotating underl its own power, the operator releases the lever 7 5, thereb opening the circuit of the motor M and clbsing the circuit of the generator G, which now generates currentland charges' the storage battery B2, providinv the speed of the generator is such as to furnish more current than is necessary for ignition and lightin purposes. The ammeter 11 is so arrange as to show whether the current being generated by the generator G is in excess or less than the current being consumed by the engine and lights.

While I cuit arrangement, I do not wish to be limited to such, as various other circuit arrange- 4ments may be used in connection with al combination switch of 'the cla hereinbefore described. My improved combination switch carries all of the plungers together with the dimmin resistance, ammeter, overload vibratoryre ay and locking mechanism upon one mounting plate which may be readily mounted in any convenientplace upon the car. Y I have so constructed the various parts `of my switch that each part of it can be stamped out of a sheet of material, thus doing away with unnecessary labor in making the different parts,.but still (producing a very economicalbut eicient an strongly bination of` ymy improved device will be readilyapparent tofthoseskilled'in the art,

and-it w1 also be clear that many cha-` Vs andlmodiications may be made without eparting ,from its spirit. Therefore, to cover all that co'mes 'within the spirit and scope of the ap nded claims.

Havingjdescri 4 my invention, what I have illustrated one specific cir-v claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is-

n 1. A switch device including a front plate, aplurality of plungers carried by said front plate, a slidable locking plate carried by saidl front plate for locking said plungers .against actuation, a pair of slots cut in said locking plate, a pair of pins secured to said front plate and extending through said slots to guide themovement of the said locking plate, grooves cut'in said locking plate, and a spring fastened to said pins for coperating with said grooves to maintain said locking platein either `of its positions.

2. A switch device comprising a mounting plate, a mounting strip securedl to said mountin plate and providedvwith integrally formed e ndent ears, strips of insu ating material astened to saidjde endent ears, switch springs secured to saidpstrips of in sulating material, a movable switch plunger having bearing surfaces in said mounting strip and in said mounting plate, integrally formed shoulders forl said plunger for limit-` ing the movement thereof, a strip of insulating material lsecured to saidswitch plunger,

plate and extending through said slots tQ- guidethe movement of the said locking plate, vgrooves cut in said locking plate, a spring fastenedvto said pinsv for coperating with said grooves to maintain said locking plate in either of it`s` positions, and a 4strip connected to said pinshaving an orice into which the key for moving said locking plate f1t3 f 4. A switch device including a front plate, a mounting plate secured-thereto, strips of insulating material secured to said mounting plate, switch springs fastened to, said strips of insulating material, a yswitch plum` ger mounted between said front plate and .l

said mounting plate, a, piece of insulating material securedv to said switch plunger, integrally formed projecting ears on said piece ofv insulating material, a strip of conducting material secured to saidpiece of insulating material, lsaid ears coperating with said switch springsfto maintain said plunger in either its operatedv or its normal sition and to revent displacement of the said strip of con ucting material.

v5. A switch device of' the character deF scribed including a mounting plate, a mount-v ingstrip secured to said mounting plate, a

movable switch member having bearing sur- `adapted to be electrically connected by said conducting strip, and an auxiliary spring attached to one of said strips of insulating material for coperation with said conducting strip.

6. A switching device including a front plate, a mounting strip secured 4to said `front plate and provided with dependent ears, strips of insulating material fastened to said dependent ears, switch springs secured to said strips of insulating material, a plurality of opera-ting plungers extending -through the said front 'plate into said mounting strip, a plate of insulating material secured to cachot said plungers, an elongated conducting strip secured to the plate of insulating material on each of said plungers, projecting ears for each of said plates of insulating material for preventing its associated strip of conducting material from becoming displaced and for engagement with the switch springs associated therewith, and operating buttons for moving said plungers outward and inward, thereby moving said conducting strips into and out of rela-` tion with said switch springs.

7. A device of the character described including a front plate, a U-shaped mounting strip secured to said front plate, integrallyformed dependent ears for said mounting strip, a pair of strips of insulating material rivetally secured to said dependent ears, upwardly extending switch springs rivetally secured to said strips of insulating material, the free extremities of said switch1 -springs having their ends-semi-circular in form` a switch plunger slidably secured in said front plate and mounting strip, integrally formed ears for said switch plunger for limiting the movement thereof, a plate of insulating material rivetally secured to said switch plunger, projecting ears of said plate of insulating material for coperation with the rounded ott extremities of said switch springs to maintain the switch plunger in either its normal or its operated position,

and an auxiliary switch spring rivetally'secured to one of said strips of insulating material for cooperation with a conducting member rivetally secured to saidwplate of insulating material.

. 8. A switch device including a front plate, a mounting strip secured to said front plate, switch actuating plungers movably supported by said front plate and said mounting strip, a slidable locking lplate located immediately below said front plate, slots cut in said locking plate, a pair of pins extending through said slots to' guide the movement of i said locking plate, depressions cut in said locking plate, a spring secured to saidpins provided with a projecting portion for cooperation with said depressions to maintain said locking plate in either of its positions, a strip secured to said pins provided with an orifice into which a key projects for moving said locking plate, integrally-formed dependent ears for said mounting strip, a pair of strips of insulating material secured to said ears, switch springs secured to said strips of insulating material, and conducting members insulatingly secured to said plungers for electrically connecting said switch springs.

9. A switch device comprising a mounting frame, strips of insulating material carried by said mounting frame, diametrically opposed switch springs fastened to said strips nof insulating material, a movable switch element carried by said mounting frame, a plate of insulating material fastened to said switch element, a conducting element secured to said stri of insulating material for coperation wlth said switch springs, and an auxiliary switch spring secured to one of said strips of insulating material normally in engagement with said conducting element and adapted to remain in engagement therewith when said movable switch element is operated'to electrically connect said switch springs, whereby said auxiliary switch spring and said diametrically opposed switch springs are electrically connected.

Signed by me at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM KAISLING.

Witnesses:

G. A. YANooHowsKi, B.;OBnmN. 

